AUS vs ENG, ICC World Cup Semi-Final 2: Woakes, Rashid Stellar Spells Restrict Australia To 223-Run Total

Australia set a below-par target of 224 for England in the second semifinal of the ICC World Cup being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Australia posted a below par target of 223 for England in the second semifinal of the ICC World Cup being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Birmingham: Australia set  a below-par target of 224 for England in the second semifinal of the ICC World Cup being played at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Batting first, Australia got off to a dismal start as they lost both their openers David Warner and Aaron Finch cheaply. Archer and Chris Woakes bowled probing lines to make the initial breakthroughs. Aussies were in dire straits when Woakes struck again to send Peter Handscomb back to the pavilion. Steven Smith then staged a recovery with wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey to get their innings back on track. Just as Carey was nearing his half century, leg spinner Adil Rashid had him outfoxed with a classical leg spinner. Rashid struck in quick succession to trap leg wicket Marcus Stoinis for a duck. Glen Maxwell stepped up the run rate with Steve Smith, hitting some lusty blows.

However against the run of play, Jofra Archer dismissed the hard hitting Maxwell. Woakes came back strongly to scalp Mitchell Starc, who scored a quick-fire 29. Mark Wood clean bowled Jason Behrendorff to put an end to the Australian innings. While Steve Smith top scored for the Australians with 85-run knock, Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid took three wickets each for England.